In order to survive, we cling to what we have. We then want to survive tomorrow as well, so for security, we get more than what we need, which puts distance between us and our need for survival, because we can lose some of what we have, and cling to the rest. Finally, how can we help others survive? We avoid extremes - we don't rock the boat - so that others can cling to what they have. In order to have self-esteem, we choose the good over the bad, as each such choice is the source of our self-esteem. We then want self-esteem tomorrow as well, so we seek this opportunity by choosing the better over the worse. This puts distance between us and our need for self-esteem, because in choosing the better over the worse, both alternatives may be bad, or both may be good, so we don't have to think, just yet, that one is bad and the other is good. Finally, how can we help others find self-esteem? We strive for the best - we are extreme - so that others may readily decide that we are good or bad.

We can observe these six operating principles, and infer from them the needs they address. For example, consider an "altruistic" person. Everything that we can observe will suggest how they are addressing their own needs. If they do good deeds because they "must be done", they address their own survival; if so that they would have done "more good deeds", they address security; if because this is what a "normal person does", they address acceptance; if to do "the right thing", they address self-esteem; if to "make things better" they address opportunity; and if to "seek perfection" they address self-fulfillment. But there are two other principles, which we do not observe in the world, but which we acknowledge in our heart, and which free us from our needs. One is to be perfect, to have no needs, which is the case with God. The other is to take up the needs of another, rather than our own, which is the only way we can ignore our own needs. [11/00, Andrius Kulikauskas]

Maslow observed that we share a hierarchy of needs, which his followers extended. We can organize these as three needs of the body:

1. survival

2. security

3. acceptance

and three needs of the mind:

4. self-esteem

5. opportunity

6. self-fulfillment.

The body seeks to survive. It also seeks security so that it survives tomorrow. Finally, it seeks acceptance (fulfillment of the social need), relevance to the greater context, which is the ultimate reason for surviving. Analogously, the mind has no life, no energy to live, except by its self-esteem (self-worth). It also seeks opportunity (freedom, independence) so that it has self-esteem tomorrow. Finally, it seeks self-fulfillment (life meaning), relevance to the greater context, which is the ultimate reason for self-esteem.

In order to conceive this, we turn it around. We reinterpre self-sufficiency. We say that everything wishes for nothing. In other words, everything lacks nothing.

Our minds are not able to directly conceive of lacking nothing. There is nothing here for us to conceive! Instead, our mind provides us with a structural context, which is that we can have various needs. Maslow's hierarchy of needs organizes six needs: survival, security, acceptance, self-esteem, opportunity, self-fulfillment. There are eight operating principles for addressing these needs. One of these operating principles is to Be perfect. In other words, Lack nothing, Have no needs.

But we do not wish for nothing. We have needs. So there is a structural framework for our expressing our needs, a hierarchyOfNeeds. There are OperatingPrinciples for addressing these needs.

These principles may be exercised with respect to ourselves, or with respect to God who lacks nothing and is thus greater than us, as in [IAmStatements Jesus of Nazareth's statements, "I Am..."]. In this way, we interpret our needs in terms of the perspective of Everything, we care about Everything.

===God's perspective===

We may apply the operating principles with respect to life or eternal life. This distinguishes between our perspective and God's perspective. In God's perspective, we find a new extended interpretation of the gradation, starting with glory, etc..

The Wishing-for-nothing is expressed by necessary-actual-possible and the Not is the distinction of their being without or within a system.

without system

within system

necessary

glory

love

actual

intent

work

possible

example

command

With regard to the good, we get needs:

survival is glory of good

security is intent of good

acceptance is example of good

self-esteem is love of good

opportunity is work of good

self-fulfillment is command of good

Each of the needs relates two perspectives. The responses to needs are operating principles which discriminate between the two perspectives, which is from the heart, and which is from the world?

We may think of the gradation of needs as connecting choices of the heart and the world, and thereby providing interpretations for the operating principles in terms of the heart and the world.

For three of the needs (the physical needs) the choices are between accepting them, or thinking of them in terms specifically in terms of the questions whether - what - how, and thereby in terms of the topologies - necessary - actual - possible. This determines whether the operating principles are applied broadly (with regard to God, as in the "I am" questions) or narrowly.

Likewise, for the other three needs, the heart chooses the broader perspective (amongst whether - what - how), so for example, the heart chooses "the good" (the what of self-esteem) over "the bad" (the whether of self-esteem), and "the better" (the how of opportunity) over "the worse" (the whether of opportunity), and "the best" (the how of self-fulfillment) over "the rest" (the what of self-fulfillment). Note that the social need may be thought of as picking out the slack that is above and beyond our own survival needs and is inherent in part of our need for security, the surplus which security builds up is the slack that we can share.

My notes on the Gospel of John. My own understanding. Andrius, ms@ms.lt

I Am

God is the one who is first.

"I am" before there is anything to be.

I am the resurrection and the life

the glory of God = the Word = the Son = the coherence of everything = the Godness of everything

the Word is that through which everything arose, and without it arose nothing, which has arisen

the Father = the coherence of God = the Godness of God

the Spirit = the coherence of coherence = the Godness of Godness

the Father is the Son is the Spirit

the Father seeks those who worship in spirit and in truth

it is nothing to glorify oneself

the Father seeks to glorify the Son

glorify the Father = complete the work that he gave to the Son

glorify the Son = have the glory which we had with the Father before the world began, for the Father always grants the Son what he wants

Christ was not there, allowed death, so they might believe

resurrection allows belief

whoever has in them love of God, accepts his messenger, and seeks the glory that comes only from God

whoever keeps Christ's words will not taste death ever

eternal life = to know God the Father and Jesus ("with God") who he has sent

eternal life = coherence without bounds

life = the coherence of anything = coherence within bounds

anything is that which observes everything

the coherence of anything is that which knows the coherence of everything (?)

The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth, that we are one. * The truth is the fact that we can give ourselves up for each other. Coherence is the unity of representations. Coherence is Godness. But what is the relationship between coherence, spirit, truth and glory?

In what sense is God love? and supports life? especially as a onesome? It seems there is a wholeness of the one perspective. That one perspective is the Son, the wholeness is ?

I am the gate for the sheep

God's intention = eternal life = to have life, and to the fullest (= that we engage the world, that we might rise above the world)

the pasture = heaven = what God wants for us

find pasture = to have life to the full

the pen for the sheep = the world

be saved = to have life in this world = the kingdom of heaven = where what you believe is what happens

to be born = to become tangible, in the flesh = to go through the gate = to come from heaven into the world

to be born again = to come into the world as spirit, to choose to be in the world (= engage the world)

to be spirit = to be like the wind = to go where you please, nobody knowing where you came from, and where you are going (= rise above the world)

I am the way, the truth and the life

example = comes from above, from heaven

give example = show how to do, so that it would be done

the higher = who gives the example

the lower = who can, at best, reproduce the example

the higher speaks from what is given above, for the glory of the one above

the lower speaks from itself, for its own glory

A prophet has no glory among his own people (for they are his equals).

God teaches by being the example

man teaches by "raising" the example

Son = child taught by the father

Son of God = taught by God

Son of Man = taught by Man

the Father teaches the world = The Father attracts to the Son = giving the Son to the world to "raise" as an example = they come to the Son = the world is forced to acknowledge that the Son loves the Father and does as he commands = the Son takes what is given to him from heaven = they are chosen ahead of time

offended by this wrong = believe = saved

not offended by this wrong = not believe = already condemned

accept the example = live

the Father sends out the messenger of truth (sends the example)

the Son is that by which they believe (is the example)

the Spirit is that which holds them together in faith (keeps the example)

the Father = the highest (= going beyond himself?)

nobody sees the Father

only the Son reveals the Father

descended from heaven = to be "taught" by Man

rise to heaven = be the Son of Man

to go to the Father = to go beyond oneself (= to give oneself up) = to make way for others

cannot go to the Father until the Son goes = cannot make way for others until the Son shows how to make way for others

only the Son is the way

to know Christ = to understand that he is good = to understand that the Father is good

to not believe Christ = to die in one's sins

to believe that he is = ?

the Father loves the Son = the Father gives the Son the Spirit without measure

the Spirit of Truth = the Caretaker = keeps the believers together in the dark, explains all, leads to truth, and shows the world, that it is mistaken, for they are one in their love

accept the Holy Spirit - to forgive or not forgive sins

the last day = they will have joy and it will not be taken away = whatever they ask of the Father he will give them = the day of the Son = the Son will speak without parables = will speak plainly about the Father = those doing good will rise up for life = those doing bad will rise up for judgement

What is the Spirit? It is a gift from the Father to the Son. What is this gift?
The gift of God is eternal life.

I am the good shepherd

The Father loves the Son = is one with the Son = the Son stays in the home forever = the Son freely gives up his life for others

to give up oneself = to die = to hate one's own life = to give fruit

the hour = the one who listens to the Father is left alone = glorify his name that they believe

ask of oneself, not of others (be interested in the truth)

the spirit of truth = that we are one

sheep = those who value truth

lamb of God = listens to God's voice = destroy the sin of * the world = on him comes down and remains the Holy Spirit = he baptizes in the Holy Spirit

the sheep listen to his voice

Christ = the voice

Christ came into the world to witness truth

god = the one to whom is given God's word (= to have coherence = to have Godness)

come to the Son = be given by the Father

the Son frees = the Son gives truth which, when we know, it sets us free

the good shepherd = lives for the sheep = the one who cares for his sheep = the one who loves God

the truth = the fact that one can give oneself up for others = the power to become children of God

be child = do the father's works = be able to listen to words thought up by the father = love the one who comes from the father

the sheep are one = they listen to one voice

the world believes for they are one in the Father and the Son (that the Father sent the Son)

people believe when they see the truth, they believe the one who knows the truth, that he is come from God

truth = the fact that one can give oneself up for others

Christ shows the works of God

the one who wants to do the will of God will recognize the Son from that, does he look for his own glory, or does he care about the glory of the one who sent him, does he do the work of God

whoever sees the light, sees that from where it comes = whoever accepts the Son, accepts the Sender = whoever accepts the Son's word, accepts God's intention, what to declare

the glory of God = eternal life

God's intention = eternal life

the trial judges, who did not accept the light, that their deeds may not be seen, and who did, that it become clear that their deeds were done in God = those who see "in the dark" will be blinded by the light, and those who stumble in the dark will see.

the poor = lost in the darkness

while there is light, it is day, work must be done = while Christ is in the world, must believe in Christ, to become children of light, and spread the faith, so they can look for the light even when the light is gone

the Spirit of Truth = the Caretaker, the Holy Spirit, which the world does not see, but which takes care through the night and all ages

the Spirit of Truth will teach all things to those who believe

the light of people = life

the light of life = ? (life or truth?)

I am the true vine

the command = to love each other (as Christ loves) = to give up one's life for one's friends

friends = those who accept and obey the command

to keep the command = to stay in love = to love = to keep the word = to be cleaned

the branches that give fruit = those who remain in Christ = the students of Christ

the branches that do not give fruit = those who do not remain in Christ = they will be pruned

the branches = the people

the vine = the Son

the gardener = the Father

I am the bread of life

the gift of God = eternal life

the spirit gives life

the flesh gives nothing

to accept God's gift = believe

to accept God's gift from Christ = to believe in Christ

the will of God = that every one who sees the Son and believes in him have eternal life

eternal life = to live forever (= to share in God's eternal work, that Christ allows us to complete, through the Spirit) = to take what Christ gives from God = to remain in Christ, and Christ in him = to eat his body, drink his blood (= to take what was his ("bread") to have ("was meant to become his body") that he has chosen to give to us instead) = to accept the gift of God that he brings, bread from heaven = to accept the water that Christ gives

the Son's food = do the will of the one who sent me, and complete his work

to give God's gift = to give up the flesh, that the world may live

Christ's gift = truth = the fact that one can give oneself up for others

I am working on understanding life, which I pursue mostly at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/consideringGod/ I have been writing my
notes in TheBrain. Today I looked over my notes from the Gospel of
John, and have been linking and thinking. I'll write down what I'm
thinking, maybe somebody will have a thought. Andrius, http://www.ms.lt

I think a lot about Christ's statements "I am..." At the heart of
each statement I think there is a different concept, each of which is
eternal life.

God's glory "I am the resurrection and the life"

God's intention "I am the gate for the sheep"

God's example "I am the way, the truth and the life"

God's love "I am the good shepherd"

God's work "I am the light of the world"

God's command "I am the true vine"

God's will "I am the bread of life"

I'm thinking more about each of these, what they mean, and how they
relate to each other. I thought about the gate for the sheep, having
life and to the fullest. I think now that the pen is heaven, and that
we are saved by entering in, but to live to the fullest we go out to
pasture, into the world. We are born again if we choose therefore to
go out to the world. If we are in the spirit, then we are like the
wind, nobody knows if we are coming or going, in this regard - are we
rising above the world, or are we engaging it.

God's glory is his Word, the Son, the coherence of everything, the Godness of everything, that through which everything arises.

God's intention is to be worshipped in spirit and truth, that we have life and to the fullest, rising above the world but also engaging it.

God's example comes from above, from heaven, to show how to do, that it might be done, for the glory of the one above.

God's love is that his Son (the one who does what the Father does) is always with him, but he is not always with his Son, so that just as he gives himself up, so he gives up his Son, so that his Son might give himself up.

God's work is to believe the Son that he sent, and accept that he is from God, does God's work for the glory of God. And I think, to believe that God is loving even in giving up his Son, that he is truly God in doing so.

God's command is to love each other, give oneself up for those who love each other, make way for each other to give oneself up.

God's will is that every one who sees the Son and believes in him have eternal life. Eternal life is to do the work of God that the Son allows us to complete through the Holy Spirit, this work of giving way for each other.

They all seem to speak of eternal life as God's going beyond himself.

I have two thoughts regarding this. One is that God is always
connected to us, but we are not always connected to him, and not
necessarily for any fault of our own. I have a sense when I have a
connection with God, and when I don't. I doubt that we're designed to
have connection with God all the time, we're designed to turn our
attention over to other things as well. I don't find there being
something inherently wrong not to be connected with God, although it
often happens that I feel there's something wrong and that I should
run to him, and he is there. Certainly Christ had a will distinct
from God's, and even at odds with God, although he always chose God
over himself. "Don't touch me, for I haven't yet ascended to my
Father". I'm thinking about Christ on the cross, and also his
temptation in the wilderness. In the latter case, the Spirit was with
him. I don't know if the Father was with him or not, I suppose he
was, for he prayed. At all these times I expect he prayed, but
whether God was with him, I don't know. Also, with the psalm, "God
why have you abandoned me?", it's hard to say what level he is reading
it on. Is he living it, or is he reading it? If he is living it,
then I'd say he's abandoned. If he's just citing it, I think that at
least he's sympathetic with the position. If he's sympathetic, I
think it's because it's real, and if it's real, I think he suffers
this, for this makes his suffering more real, more to the point. The
fact that he's abandoned does not diminish God, but rather glorifies
him. So certainly he was abandoned.

Another issue, I guess the same issue, is that just as God gives
himself up in every way, making way for others, so he has children who
do likewise, but he has a Son who he gives up. That is, the Father
behaves towards his Son in a way that is above and beyond how he
behaves towards himself. The Father gives up himself of his own, but
the Son is given up by the Father. That is why there is drama. The
Son is always with the Father, but the Father has given up the Son.
It is up to the Son to justify the Father. The Son takes up this work
from the Father, and thereby glorifies the Father. And the Father has
a vested interest that people believe in the Son, for otherwise there
is no justification for the Father. So this is the Father's work, to
make good of his action towards his Son. For the Son has made good of
what the Father has done. The Son makes true the Father - that just
as the Father give himself up, so does the Son give himself up, even
as the Father has given up the Son.

This outlook intensifies for me what is going on, increases my empathy
for the Son, and the glory of the Father. Just as the Father gave up
his Son, so he gave over to the Son all things that on him they
depend, that he make true the Father.

"I have yet many things to tell you, but you can't bear them now.
16:13 However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide
you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever
he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are
coming. 16:14 He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine,
and will declare it to you. 16:15 All things whatever the Father has
are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine, and will declare it
to you."

"Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? 'Father, save me from this
time?' But for this cause I came to this time. 12:28 Father, glorify
your name!"

"Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; but, that the works of God
might be revealed in him"

"Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the
bondservant of sin. 8:35 A bondservant doesn't live in the house
forever. A son remains forever. 8:36 If therefore the Son makes you
free, you will be free indeed."

"Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me."

"You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to
you from above. Therefore he who delivered me to you has greater sin."

===Jesus' statementes "I Am..."===

The gospel of John contains eight statements by Christ of the form "I am...", the eighth being "I AM", alluding to Jahwe, the name God revealed to Moses. 0. I am. 1. I am the resurrection and the life. 2. I am the gate for the sheep. 3. I am the way, the truth and the life. 4. I am the good shepherd. 5. I am the light of the world. 6. I am the true vine. 7. I am the bread of life. They express how we may apply our operating principles absolutely - with respect to God, the entirety - rather than relatively, with respect to ourselves.

"I AM". How can I have no needs, and be perfect? Only with respect to the entirety.

"I am the resurrection and the life". I have a need for life, and so I cling to what we have. If I wish to do so absolutely, then I do so with respect to the glory of the entirety, which gives absolute life. Not only to live, but to overcome death. "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name."

"I am the gate for the sheep". I have a need for security, and so I get more than what I need. If I wish to do so absolutely, then I do so with respect to the intention of the entirety, which gives absolute salvation. Not only blessed within the gate, but blessed to go out and come back. "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

"I am the way and the truth and the life". I have a need for acceptance, and so I avoid extremes, I behave normally. If I wish to do so absolutely, then I do so with respect to the example of the entirety, which provides an absolute home. "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

"I am the good shepherd". I have a need for self-worth, and so I choose the good over the bad. If I wish to do so absolutely, then I do so with respect to the love of the entirety, the source of absolute value. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

"I am the light of the world". I have a need for opportunity, and so I choose the better over the worse. If I wish to do so absolutely, then I do so with respect to the works of the entirety, which give its absolute message. "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

"I am the true vine". I have a need for self-fulfillment, and so I strive for perfection. If I wish to do so absolutely, then I do so with respect to the command of the entirety, which gives absolute fruit. "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."

"I am the bread of life". I have needs, but do not worry about them, if I worry about the needs of somebody else. If I wish to do so absolutely, then I do so with respect to the will of the entirety, which gives absolute relationship. "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

These statements question the logic of our concern for ourselves. They embolden us to live our lives with respect to the entirety. They challenge us to live with faith with regard to the entirety. When I read the gospel of John, I think he was the disciple very close to Christ, who cared to note how Christ himself thought about these things. [11/00, Andrius Kulikauskas]

===Notes===

I learned of the statements from AdrianHunter.

{{Andrius}}: One thing I noticed is that "eternal life" is identified with the
glory of God, and also the intention of God. So I imagine that it
might be identified with all of the following:

-
- glory of God
- intention of God
- example of God
- love of God
- work of God
- command of God
- will of God

These come up in Christ's "I am..." statements in the Gospel of John.
So I should think and write about that.

Thank you for your most recent letter. I wrote a reply, but didn't send
it out, and have lost it somewhere. I don't know what to say regarding
the problem of how all such knowledge might be misused. I just think
that it's fair to expect God to take care of a lot of this. Certainly
if we ourselves are proceeding in good will, so that's always important
to check. Also, my feeling and experience is that the truly deep
knowledge is available only through our purity of heart, our clarity of
purpose. So that in itself is a check on misuse. Finally, how can we
know that hesitating is any better than pursuing?

I started reorganizing my notes at http://www.ms.lt/def/outline.html and
hit upon a better sense of the overview. I'll write about that here.
And I've started to work with Personal Brain on this, so I hope to make
that available in the coming weeks.

I had noticed how the unfolding of everything was based upon the
divisions, and their role in making definitions. So that is how
everything starts out. Now what I've noticed is that there are a lot of
very important facts about life that have to do with the upshot of life,
how it concludes. It's very helpful to separate these out. I've
realized that they are all about the coherence of everything, rather
than the unfolding of everything. I think they are organized by the "I
am..." statements of Jesus, and they can be considered in reverse order,
so that each expresses coherence with fewer and fewer perspectives,
getting down to the core essence of life, which has zero perspectives,
and is God, "I AM". Perfection, I suppose. I imagine that this is
related to the outlook that you've been expressing.

So here is a sketch of what I think are the core outlooks that express
the essence of life, by which it coheres. Consider life as having
unfolded from everything by means of an operation +1, which contributes
definitions by means of the division of everything. The eight divisions
yield four primary structures and six secondary structures that express
all of life. But do they all cohere? Now there are eight outlooks that
don't collapse life, but rather, allow it to hold together. They are
perhaps related by an operation -1, which describes what is good. Jesus
talks about them through his "I am..." statements, which I write more
about at http://www.ms.lt/def/17.html and have to do with the fact that
God has no needs, lacks nothing, is perfect, but we have needs, and can
respond to them with operating principles, and apply them to look
towards God.

Jesus says, "I am the bread of life", which is about looking to God's
will rather than our own. Taking up the needs of others, rather than
our own. "This is my flesh", he said of the bread he gave, because the
only thing that had kept the bread from becoming his flesh was that he
gave the bread to others that it become their flesh. "This is my blood"
he said of the wine.
The first outlook is the fact of life itself, that it is a gift. This
is the fact that life is unquestionably good.
This is related to the will, and how it brings together the expressions
of the will, only if they look to the whole. I think it somehow brings
together seven perspectives, and occurs through the seventh members of
the injections of the primary structures.

Jesus says, "I am the true vine", which is about looking to God's
command. I have a need for self-fulfillment, and so I strive for
perfection. If I wish to do so absolutely, then I do so with respect to
the command of the entirety, which gives absolute fruit. "If ye abide in
me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall
be done unto you."
This brings together the six ways of expressing "Love your neighbor as
yourself", and also redundantly, positively the four ways of expressing
"Love God". Instead of living directly, in a scattered manner (7
perspectives), we can focus on the commandments (6 perspectives).

Jesus says, "I am the light of the world", which is about looking to
God's work. I have a need for opportunity, and so I choose the better
over the worse. If I wish to do so absolutely, then I do so with respect
to the works of the entirety, which give its absolute message. "I must
work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh,
when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of
the world."
God is a creator, that is his work. We are children of God in that we
do what he does, we are cocreators. We remake the world by choosing the
truth of the heart over the truth of the world, and thereby creating a
community of the truth of the heart. Instead of focusing on the
commandments (6 perspectives), we can focus on being cocreators (5
perspectives).

Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd", which is about looking to God's
love. I have a need for self-worth, and so I choose the good over the
bad. If I wish to do so absolutely, then I do so with respect to the
love of the entirety, the source of absolute value. "For God so loved
the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
We can "love our enemy" as believers in God, who are able to have an
enemy but nevertheless love them. To love our enemy is to behave with
them just as we would with our friends. Jesus says our friends are
those who understand our commands and follow them, our servants do not
understand our commands but follow them, and I suppose that our enemies
do not follow our commands, the bigger ones understanding them, the
smaller ones not. So we can behave to all the same, as God who sends
his rain on the good and the bad, and his sun likewise. We give up our
life for our friends, and the principles of our friendship. Our
friendship is based on openness. Instead of focusing on cocreation (5
perspectives), we can focus on behaving as friends (4 perspectives).

Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life", which is about
looking to God's example. I have a need for acceptance, and so I avoid
extremes, I behave normally. If I wish to do so absolutely, then I do so
with respect to the example of the entirety, which provides an absolute
home. "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love
him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."
We can take up God's concerns by obeying - doing as he says, believing -
following one who does as he says, or caring - wanting to go in the
direction that he does. In this way we do God's will. Instead of
focusing on behaving as friends (4 perspectives), we focus on pursuing
his concerns (3 perspectives).

Jesus says, "I am the gate for the sheep", which is about looking to
God's intention. I have a need for security, and so I get more than
what I need. If I wish to do so absolutely, then I do so with respect to
the intention of the entirety, which gives absolute salvation. Not only
blessed within the gate, but blessed to go out and come back. "I am come
that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
We can rise above life, but also engage it. Instead of focusing on
pursuing God's concerns (3 perspectives), we focus on reaching out (2
perspectives).

Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life", which is about looking
to God's glory. I have a need for life, and so I cling to what we have.
If I wish to do so absolutely, then I do so with respect to the glory of
the entirety, which gives absolute life. Not only to live, but to
overcome death. "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father,
save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
Father, glorify thy name."
We can simply love, whether or not we are in the world or above it,
connected to God or on our own, whether or not God exists. In this
sense, God is love. Instead of focusing on reaching out (2
perspectives), we focus on loving (1 perspective).

Jesus say, "I AM", which is about looking to God. How can I have no
needs, and be perfect? Only with respect to the entirety.
Rather than love (1 perspective), we can simply look to God (0
perspectives).

Yesterday I was analyzing Jesus' "I am..." statements from the Gospel
of John. I sent that to our group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lovingGod/ and I include it at the end
of my letter. At the core of each of these statements is a concept
that expresses eternal life as God's going beyond himself.

Today I considered, in each case, what is going beyond?

God's Glory: that his Coherence go beyond him.

(not only God has coherence, but so does everything)

God's Intention: that his free Spirit go beyond him.

(we are "born again" when we choose to go out in the world and engage it)

God's Example: that his Activity go beyond him.

(as the Father does, so does the Son - he comes from above)

God's Love: that his Giving-himself-up go beyond him.

(the Father gave himself up, made way for everything, of his own will
- but he likewise gives up his Son, who is sent of his Father's will,
not his own)

God's Work: that his Belief go beyond him.

(the Father is justified if truly the Son likewise gives himself up,
and there is belief that the Father and the Son are one)

God's Command: that his Loving-each-other go beyond him.

(as the Father makes way for the Son, and the Son makes way for the
Father, so the Son makes way for us to make way for each other)

God's Will: that his Work go beyond him.

(the drama of the justification of the Father's giving up his Son is
to come across regardless of how one comes to see and believe)

There seems to be an operation +2 here, where God's X+2 is that God's
X go beyond him. That might make sense if it could be related to
expectations and emotional responses.

I am working on understanding life, which I pursue mostly at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/consideringGod/ I have been writing my
notes in TheBrain. Today I looked over my notes from the Gospel of
John, and have been linking and thinking. I'll write down what I'm
thinking, maybe somebody will have a thought. Andrius, http://www.ms.lt

I think a lot about Christ's statements "I am..." At the heart of
each statement I think there is a different concept, each of which is
eternal life.

God's glory "I am the resurrection and the life"

God's intention "I am the gate for the sheep"

God's example "I am the way, the truth and the life"

God's love "I am the good shepherd"

God's work "I am the light of the world"

God's command "I am the true vine"

God's will "I am the bread of life"

I'm thinking more about each of these, what they mean, and how they
relate to each other. I thought about the gate for the sheep, having
life and to the fullest. I think now that the pen is heaven, and that
we are saved by entering in, but to live to the fullest we go out to
pasture, into the world. We are born again if we choose therefore to
go out to the world. If we are in the spirit, then we are like the
wind, nobody knows if we are coming or going, in this regard - are we
rising above the world, or are we engaging it.

God's glory is his Word, the Son, the coherence of everything, the
Godness of everything, that through which everything arises.
God's intention is to be worshipped in spirit and truth, that we have
life and to the fullest, rising above the world but also engaging it.
God's example comes from above, from heaven, to show how to do, that
it might be done, for the glory of the one above.
God's love is that his Son (the one who does what the Father does) is
always with him, but he is not always with his Son, so that just as he
gives himself up, so he gives up his Son, so that his Son might give
himself up.
God's work is to believe the Son that he sent, and accept that he is
from God, does God's work for the glory of God. And I think, to
believe that God is loving even in giving up his Son, that he is truly
God in doing so.
God's command is to love each other, give oneself up for those who
love each other, make way for each other to give oneself up.
God's will is that every one who sees the Son and believes in him have
eternal life. Eternal life is to do the work of God that the Son
allows us to complete through the Holy Spirit, this work of giving way
for each other.

They all seem to speak of eternal life as God's going beyond himself.

I have two thoughts regarding this. One is that God is always
connected to us, but we are not always connected to him, and not
necessarily for any fault of our own. I have a sense when I have a
connection with God, and when I don't. I doubt that we're designed to
have connection with God all the time, we're designed to turn our
attention over to other things as well. I don't find there being
something inherently wrong not to be connected with God, although it
often happens that I feel there's something wrong and that I should
run to him, and he is there. Certainly Christ had a will distinct
from God's, and even at odds with God, although he always chose God
over himself. "Don't touch me, for I haven't yet ascended to my
Father". I'm thinking about Christ on the cross, and also his
temptation in the wilderness. In the latter case, the Spirit was with
him. I don't know if the Father was with him or not, I suppose he
was, for he prayed. At all these times I expect he prayed, but
whether God was with him, I don't know. Also, with the psalm, "God
why have you abandoned me?", it's hard to say what level he is reading
it on. Is he living it, or is he reading it? If he is living it,
then I'd say he's abandoned. If he's just citing it, I think that at
least he's sympathetic with the position. If he's sympathetic, I
think it's because it's real, and if it's real, I think he suffers
this, for this makes his suffering more real, more to the point. The
fact that he's abandoned does not diminish God, but rather glorifies
him. So certainly he was abandoned.

Another issue, I guess the same issue, is that just as God gives
himself up in every way, making way for others, so he has children who
do likewise, but he has a Son who he gives up. That is, the Father
behaves towards his Son in a way that is above and beyond how he
behaves towards himself. The Father gives up himself of his own, but
the Son is given up by the Father. That is why there is drama. The
Son is always with the Father, but the Father has given up the Son.
It is up to the Son to justify the Father. The Son takes up this work
from the Father, and thereby glorifies the Father. And the Father has
a vested interest that people believe in the Son, for otherwise there
is no justification for the Father. So this is the Father's work, to
make good of his action towards his Son. For the Son has made good of
what the Father has done. The Son makes true the Father - that just
as the Father give himself up, so does the Son give himself up, even
as the Father has given up the Son.

This outlook intensifies for me what is going on, increases my empathy
for the Son, and the glory of the Father. Just as the Father gave up
his Son, so he gave over to the Son all things that on him they
depend, that he make true the Father.

"I have yet many things to tell you, but you can't bear them now.
16:13 However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide
you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever
he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are
coming. 16:14 He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine,
and will declare it to you. 16:15 All things whatever the Father has
are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine, and will declare it
to you."

"Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? 'Father, save me from this
time?' But for this cause I came to this time. 12:28 Father, glorify
your name!"

"Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; but, that the works of God
might be revealed in him"

"Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the
bondservant of sin. 8:35 A bondservant doesn't live in the house
forever. A son remains forever. 8:36 If therefore the Son makes you
free, you will be free indeed."

"Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me."

"You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to
you from above. Therefore he who delivered me to you has greater sin."

Perhaps the way to consider structure is as an interpolation between the representations of everything, and the representations of anything.

They are perhaps related primarily with the Eightfold way, and have to do with obeying, believing, caring - doing God's will.

The Conditions for Structure

Gradation expresses the development of the conditions for structure. A whole series of conditions unfold from the activity of everything. These are conditions for the structure expressing the connection between everything (the nullsome) and anything (the onesome).

nullsome

onesome - system

twosome - existence

threesome - participation

foursome - knowledge

fivesome - decision

sixsome - structure

sevensome

The sixsome is the condition for structure, and onesome is the condition for system. The gradation is in this way also the interpolation between the nullsome and the sevensome, between spirit without system and spirit within system. Nullsome, onesome, twosome, threesome have four representations. Foursome, fivesome, sixsome, sevensome have two representations. The goodness of God is in the connection of these coherencies. Any kind of spirit within the system arises from spirit without the system. The spirit, in going into any system, is its spirit.

Indulgence vs. restraint, are people fundamentally good or bad (self-esteem)

Competitive attitudes - gender roles (freedom)

Uncertainty avoidance (self-fulfillment)

Everything cares for its own unity. See the WaysOfCaring.

Operating principles let us go beyond ourselves as to whether we care, they let us take the perspective that lacks nothing. We thereby care about our own unity, which manifests itself as our relationship with God.

Good is Not Wishing-for-nothing, and is expressed by responses to needs.